After conceding three goals in the first half and producing exactly zero shots on goal, Bayern looked dead in the water at the halftime whistle. Instead, Harry Kane, Michael Olise, and Jamal Musiala entered the fray to score second half goals and lead Bayern to a frenzied 4-3 win to preserve the undefeated streak of road matches.<\/p>\n
This is the perfect type of game late in the season that proves invaluable toward the development of young players who will grow into their roles at the club. It\u2019s a bummer that Tom Bischof, Lennart Karl, Wisdom Mike, Cassiano Kiala, and David Daiber were all unavailable due to injury.<\/p>\n
On all three Mainz goals, Urbig made a solid save along with an inexperienced mistake. On the positive side, Urbig blocked the original attempts on all three goals that Bayern conceded. On the negative side, Urbig failed to clear the ball out of a dangerous area. Urbig will learn from these mistakes on his path to becoming the starting goalkeeper.<\/p>\n
On the first goal, Urbig punched away the corner kick only for Guerreiro and Jackson to avoid the rebound and allow an immediate cross to an unmarked player. On the second goal, Urbig deflected the shot right back in front of the net where Paul Nebel outhustled Bayern\u2019s entire backline. On the third goal, Urbig\u2019s diving save sent the shot off the crossbar but Sheraldo Becker beat Kim Min-jae and Hiroki It\u014d to the easy tap-in.<\/p>\n
Ndiaye showcased a lot of potential, although he is probably better suited in an attacking role rather than playing as a defensive midfielder. He has a quick first touch, constantly scans the space around him, and rarely places a poor pass. He proved that he is comfortable with the pace of first division European football. He should see a lot of playing time over the next month with a very good chance of staying on the senior squad as a rotational player next season.<\/p>\n
Despite decent performances as of late, Nicolas Jackson, Leon Goretzka, and Rapha\u00ebl Guerreiro showcased why each individual is not playing at Bayern\u2019s level at this point in their respective careers.<\/p>\n
Jackson tried to play the same role as Harry Kane in the first half, moving around the pitch to open up possession. The problem is that Jackson\u2019s vision and precision is nowhere near the quality of Kane, often resulting in poor spacing or high risk, low reward turnovers that played directly into Mainz\u2019s compact defensive plan. Even on Jackson\u2019s goal, it was a very hesitant volley that should have been saved by the goalkeeper.<\/p>\n
Sporting the captain\u2019s armband in the first half, Goretzka spent most of the match lightly jogging around the pitch as the central attacking midfielder. 18-year old Bara Sapoko Ndiaye dropped more into possession and defense while Goretzka played the role of bystander, often caught standing next to Jackson for no particular benefit.<\/p>\n
Guerreiro was instrumental against Stuttgart and St. Pauli, channeling his inner Thomas M\u00fcller to open up space and passing lanes for his teammates. As a right winger today, Guerreiro was a bit out of sorts and his sloppy turnover directly led to a Mainz goal in the first half.<\/p>\n
The past decade at Bayern has been characterized by an inconsistent playing style punctuated by a slew of coaching changes and short-term squad planning from the management team. It was a bit of a \u201cchicken and the egg\u201d situation, but no coach has survived a full 24 months since Pep Guardiola. Obviously, the solution was hiring a young coach who just led his team into relegation.<\/p>\n
Vincent Kompany accepted the increasingly undesirable manager position at Bayern and absolutely thrived. He simplified the tactics, solidified the locker room, and brought joy back to the pitch. With a 3-0 deficit on the road and the title already in hand, most managers would have mailed in the second half and turned the focus toward Tuesday\u2019s first leg against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
\u201cScrew that,\u201d said Kompany (probably). \u201cSend on Harry Kane and Michael Olise. If we score quickly, double down and send on Jamal Musiala.\u201d<\/p>\n
Today\u2019s four-goal explosion in the second half will be another notch in Kompany\u2019s belt when historians chronicle this treble-winning season.<\/p>\n
Kompany does not want to concede a single match. He does not care about the opponent, the competition, the circumstances, or the optics. His club wants to win. His players want to win. He wants to win.<\/p>\n
If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast<\/a>, Spotify<\/a>, Apple<\/a>, or any leading podcast distributor\u2026 <\/p>\n